York-based Manufacturer's Association names interim leader

The York-based Manufacturers' Association has named Jack Bardol as interim executive director.

He succeeds Michael Smeltzer, who resigned this week after 13 years leading the association. Both sides called it a mutual decision, though Smeltzer said differences of opinion existed.

Bardol is president of Bardol & Co. in Manchester Township. Founded in March 1999, the company is "focused on providing profit and cash flow improvements for middle market manufacturing companies," according to its website.

Bardol received a bachelor's degree in accounting from Northeastern University and an MBA in finance from Suffolk University. He has more than 30 years of experience working for public companies such as York International, General Signal Corp. and GT.

The association works on manufacturing issues for more than 350 member companies within Southcentral Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland.

Among recent projects, Smeltzer and the association led an effort to develop potential employees for the warehouse/distribution sector through a pilot program that kicked off in March. The program put 80 potential workers, mostly younger, through 80 hours of classroom training.

Smeltzer, 58, of York, said he will keep busy as a partner in a venture capital firm known as York Innovators Group. He also resigned as a board member of the association, which recently celebrated its 108th anniversary.